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Post by 6HP502C on Nov 13, 2017 0:54:52 GMT
Yeah, I was here imagining one of those with a big pile of Volvos and Enviros in the bottom waiting to be picked up Top prize is, of course, 9016 9016, legendary bus it's a top performer and one of the bus. It's relentless, I was enjoying it so much one night on the 188 that it overheated in Deptford on the way to North Greenwich months ago one night, think I was enjoying it too much haha Agreed. Believe it or not, all of 9001 - 9020 were like that when new under Travel London. When Abellio took over, they embarked on a merciless fuel saving programme and the gearbox behaviour of the majority of those Volvos was heavily restricted in recent times. Perhaps for the best as the kickdown on a few of them generated some violent recoils potent enough to cause standees to fall. Only 9003 and 9016 retain the original settings, though 9003 keeps going pop! I've never managed to overheat 9016 despite pushing it to its limits. You must have really been going for it
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Post by vjaska on Nov 13, 2017 1:23:34 GMT
9016, legendary bus it's a top performer and one of the bus. It's relentless, I was enjoying it so much one night on the 188 that it overheated in Deptford on the way to North Greenwich months ago one night, think I was enjoying it too much haha Agreed. Believe it or not, all of 9001 - 9020 were like that when new under Travel London. When Abellio took over, they embarked on a merciless fuel saving programme and the gearbox behaviour of the majority of those Volvos was heavily restricted in recent times. Perhaps for the best as the kickdown on a few of them generated some violent recoils potent enough to cause standees to fall. Only 9003 and 9016 retain the original settings, though 9003 keeps going pop! I've never managed to overheat 9016 despite pushing it to its limits. You must have really been going for it Second that about the 54 reg - I used to ride the 381 a lot when they were new just to ride them. I never got the same thrill from the 188, 343, 344 & H50 batches when they were concentrated between BC & WL apart from one ride on 907* (might have been 9070) under Abellio on the 152 who absolutely floored it the whole way from New Malden to Pollards Hill
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Post by 6HP502C on Nov 13, 2017 1:34:02 GMT
Second that about the 54 reg - I used to ride the 381 a lot when they were new just to ride them. I never got the same thrill from the 188, 343, 344 & H50 batches when they were concentrated between BC & WL apart from one ride on 907* (might have been 9070) under Abellio on the 152 who absolutely floored it the whole way from New Malden to Pollards Hill Now that the TAs have gone, I've gotten used to the higher numbered Volvos. They're not that bad. If done correctly, 3x 0% - 100% throttle applications will tell the engine to deliver maximum power - so will either downshift and/or rev up to around 2000rpms like the lower numbered Volvos did. I don't do it in service though, save it for the A12 on dead runs from Romford to Walworth.
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Post by M1104 on Nov 13, 2017 3:18:32 GMT
I never got the same thrill from the 188, 343, 344 & H50 batches when they were concentrated between BC & WL apart from one ride on 907* (might have been 9070) under Abellio on the 152 who absolutely floored it the whole way from New Malden to Pollards Hill Likely 9071, '72 or '73 as 9070 was the only 06 reg Volvo not allocated to BC.
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Post by M1104 on Nov 13, 2017 3:19:52 GMT
Second that about the 54 reg - I used to ride the 381 a lot when they were new just to ride them. I never got the same thrill from the 188, 343, 344 & H50 batches when they were concentrated between BC & WL apart from one ride on 907* (might have been 9070) under Abellio on the 152 who absolutely floored it the whole way from New Malden to Pollards Hill Now that the TAs have gone, I've gotten used to the higher numbered Volvos. They're not that bad. If done correctly, 3x 0% - 100% throttle applications will tell the engine to deliver maximum power - so will either downshift and/or rev up to around 2000rpms like the lower numbered Volvos did. I don't do it in service though, save it for the A12 on dead runs from Romford to Walworth. I wish I knew that trick when I was driving the 53 reg WVLs at Go Ahead. lol
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Post by lwldriver on Nov 13, 2017 11:39:23 GMT
9016, legendary bus it's a top performer and one of the bus. It's relentless, I was enjoying it so much one night on the 188 that it overheated in Deptford on the way to North Greenwich months ago one night, think I was enjoying it too much haha Agreed. Believe it or not, all of 9001 - 9020 were like that when new under Travel London. When Abellio took over, they embarked on a merciless fuel saving programme and the gearbox behaviour of the majority of those Volvos was heavily restricted in recent times. Perhaps for the best as the kickdown on a few of them generated some violent recoils potent enough to cause standees to fall. Only 9003 and 9016 retain the original settings, though 9003 keeps going pop! I've never managed to overheat 9016 despite pushing it to its limits. You must have really been going for it Oh I was, 9004, 9005, 9013, 9015 or 9016 have always been the best in the last two years. Would love to drive these again but seeing as 9004 has obviously been withdrawn, and 9013 already withdrawn and gone and now with the 381 prioritised for hybrids and the 188 gone the only route they are techinically allowed on is the 343 so I doubt (9001/5/18 have 172 and 415 blinds aswell) I'll get to drive these again. 9015 of course has always been a lovely bus to drive but I am always ever full of the memories of how it crashed in Tower Bridge Road, hit a tree and killed my sisters work colleague at the time.
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Post by VWH1414 on Nov 13, 2017 16:06:27 GMT
VLW149 is a very speedy bus, I can definitely see why this was picked to stay at GR, it was rocketing down the road this morning roaring all the way, VLA171 is also a decent bus and can reach decent speeds but is nothing too special, I will be sad to see the remaining VLWs and the 55 reg VLAs die out with the 142/642 in January
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Post by vjaska on Nov 13, 2017 18:59:14 GMT
VLW149 is a very speedy bus, I can definitely see why this was picked to stay at GR, it was rocketing down the road this morning roaring all the way, VLA171 is also a decent bus and can reach decent speeds but is nothing too special, I will be sad to see the remaining VLWs and the 55 reg VLAs die out with the 142/642 in January I need another 55 reg VLA ride before they go to stir the memories of riding them whilst at BN.
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Post by VWH1414 on Nov 13, 2017 20:26:38 GMT
VLW149 is a very speedy bus, I can definitely see why this was picked to stay at GR, it was rocketing down the road this morning roaring all the way, VLA171 is also a decent bus and can reach decent speeds but is nothing too special, I will be sad to see the remaining VLWs and the 55 reg VLAs die out with the 142/642 in January I need another 55 reg VLA ride before they go to stir the memories of riding them whilst at BN. They are something that I have ridden a lot since September 2014, must say they are a real pick n' mix, VLA172 being one of the better ones, VLA166 being one of the worst
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Post by VWH1414 on Nov 17, 2017 19:21:03 GMT
VLA122 is one of the better VLAs at GR, was riding like a rocket this morning
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Post by VWH1414 on Dec 4, 2017 17:40:08 GMT
VLA178 was flying around today, going a very good speed the whole way through my journey, will be sad to see these go in a months time having had them regularly since I started using my local school route (642) back in September 2014, so for a good 3 and a bit years
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Post by 6HP502C on Dec 5, 2017 19:34:01 GMT
VLW149 is a very speedy bus, I can definitely see why this was picked to stay at GR, it was rocketing down the road this morning roaring all the way, VLA171 is also a decent bus and can reach decent speeds but is nothing too special, I will be sad to see the remaining VLWs and the 55 reg VLAs die out with the 142/642 in January I need another 55 reg VLA ride before they go to stir the memories of riding them whilst at BN. The 258 late at night is recommended!
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Post by redexpress on Dec 5, 2017 23:48:37 GMT
I need another 55 reg VLA ride before they go to stir the memories of riding them whilst at BN. The 258 late at night is recommended! Might need a time machine if you want to ride a VLA on the 258 though
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Post by 6HP502C on Dec 6, 2017 0:14:13 GMT
The 258 late at night is recommended! Might need a time machine if you want to ride a VLA on the 258 though Forgot to mention the bit about the time machine In that case, the 340 or the H18/19 if one is lucky - the buses don't half get pushed on the circulars! The 142 seems to be a bit more sedate - maybe has padded schedules.
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Post by gloriouswater on Dec 7, 2017 0:46:47 GMT
Since the current topic is VLAs, may I recommend VLA115 on the 370 - sounds pretty healthy, ZF isn't bad on it and has kickdown. Doesn't have very long left in service either, I would imagine. I've not been lucky enough to have that bus kicked whilst being able to record it though.
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